The mining sector is estimated to consume around 5% of South Africa’s water resources and as a country listed as the 30th water-scarce country in the world, it is essential that reducing water consumption be prioritised.
Many established South African mines are geographically located in drought-stricken regions of the country where water and other resources are in short supply. However, mining operations typically require large volumes of water, and while they may have adopted measures such as closed-circuit water cycling to minimise the quantities used, there is always room for system enhancements to not only reduce water consumption but also costs.
The creation of an effective cost and water-efficient solution, built around the demand for freshwater or alternative water sources and the ability to reduce consumption, limit evaporation, manage demand and process existing water in a closed circuit, requires a comprehensive understanding of the needs of the mine, effective planning that can accommodate these and future growth parameters.
With a history of over two decades working in the mining sector, the SBS Tanks range from The SBS Group, is ideally suited to the needs of the mining sector and can be utilised at all stages of the process within a closed water circuit. The first SBS Tanks mining installation took place at a coal mine in Ogies, in the Nkangala District Municipality in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Since that first potable water storage tank installation in 1999, SBS has supplied many liquid storage solutions to mines across South Africa, into Africa and across the globe. The company has worked with many top mining companies since to deliver adequate water and wastewater processing and storage systems and gained vast experience and expertise along the way.
Many factors need to be considered when developing an effective closed water circuit solution that limits the requirements for “new” freshwater in the mining context.
SBS works with mine engineers and procurement specialists to establish the exact conditions and considerations to address when developing a best practice solution. Three of these key considerations are:
While historically concrete structures had been considered the go-to solution for water or liquid storage, the mining industry, like other industries including the municipal sector, has come to realise that concrete not only comes with greater time and cost constraints but also greater environmental impact.
SBS tanks can be installed on a simple ring beam structure, take a matter of days to erect depending on the size and can be commissioned immediately. The modular nature of the tanks means that they can be installed in even the most remote locations and do not require heavy equipment on-site or an access road for components to be transported.
The local South African SBS manufacturing facility is both ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 compliant, addressing the need for quality, health and safety standards on a mine site. SBS Tanks are also SANS 10160 accredited, with the fire tanks meeting both ASIB and 12th Edition Rules.
Onsite environmental conditions, as well as seismic conditions, need to be established when devising a process water system. Extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes or other wind events can impact the solution selection process. Water and liquid storage tanks and reservoirs need to be able to withstand this sort of activity on site. The SBS Tanks Cyclonic Range of tanks is rated for regions with a high incidence of meteorological hazards including tropical storms, hurricanes, and other high-velocity events, designed to withstand winds of up to 240 kilometres per hour.
Water supply and requirements
Considerations such as mine water standards need to be factored into the equation too. Does the mine require fresh “new” water or can processed water be used? Will the fresh water come from a municipal source or aquifer, and will it require pre-treatment? If seawater is the most readily available water source, can this be desalinated, and will the system be required to accommodate this process? Are there other requirements such as providing the community nearest the mine, where the bulk of employees will reside, with potable/ drinking water and will there be access to electricity to pump the water from this tank to the community or will the tank need to be elevated on a hill?
SBS Tanks have been designed and developed for use in used all sectors from mining to manufacturing, bulk municipal supply, rainwater harvesting and water conservation to commercial, industrial and property off-grid resource supply and management.
As a BBBEE level 2 company, SBS Solutions SA believes in solutions that build for the better, working with communities, the commercial sector, and municipalities to assist with the effective delivery of the mandate of “Water for All.”
Space limitations and capacity requirements
SBS Tank products and solutions are adaptable to meet both system and site requirements. Tanks can be built on a limited, expanding vertically to maximise capacity with 11 or more rings where required. This allows for maximum site usage efficiency. With a range of c 500 sizes and capacities from 7000 litres to 4.4 million litres, SBS Tanks are suited to every stage of the process for liquid, water or effluent storage. This allows for a flexible and adaptable circuit to be designed and even relocated, if necessary, to establish the most effective closed water circuit.
With a history of servicing the mining sector since 1999, the robust design of SBS tanks can meet demanding conditions on mine sites. Liners or bladders used inside the tank structure can be changed to suit the nature of the liquids stored within. These protect the tank structure from corrosion caused by chemical exposure. SBS Tanks typically have a 65+ year life expectancy depending on conditions onsite, with liners carrying a 10-year conditional warranty.
As a trusted water and liquid storage solutions supplier to the mining industry for over 25 years, SBS Tanks will continue to work hand in hand with mines and mining engineers to offer a range of custom-designed systems to improve water use efficiency and reduce the water requirements of the sector delivering modular and scalable solutions.
© SBS Holdings 2024
